Thailand Deny Malaysia Sepak Takraw Double as Regu Settle for Asian Games Silver

Malaysia's sepak takraw squad will come home from Japan with a gold and a silver after Thailand beat them in the men's regu final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Tuesday (29 September).

The Thais won 2-0 (15-9, 15-8) in Nagoya. Four days earlier, Malaysia had beaten the same opponents in the team regu final to end a 36-year wait for Asian Games gold in the sport.

How the final unfolded

Coach Ahmad Jais Baharun started Mohamad Azlan Alias, Aidil Aiman Azwawi and Mohamad Syahir Mohd Rosdi. Utusan Malaysia reported that Thailand were sharper and more consistent from the first rally.

Midway through the match the coaches brought on Muhammad Zulkifli Abd Razak as tekong and Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali as spiker. Utusan said the change "clearly did not deliver the expected impact". Thailand stayed in control and won both sets comfortably to keep the regu title.

Before the final, The Star wrote that Ahmad Jais's men could not afford another slow start against their old rivals. In the end, Malaysia never got a foothold in either set.

The semi-final comeback that got them there

Malaysia reached the final the hard way. In Monday's semi-final (28 September) against the Philippines, the starting trio of Zulkifli, Afifuddin and Aidil Aiman lost the first set 10-15.

Syahir and Azlan then came on, and the change worked. Malaysia took the second set 15-11 and closed out the decider 15-7 to win 2-1 and set up another meeting with Thailand.

A better return than Hangzhou

Tuesday's defeat was disappointing, but Kosmo noted that one gold and one silver is a clear improvement on Hangzhou 2022, when Malaysia's sepak takraw contingent won two silvers.

The team regu gold on 25 September was the high point. Malaysia beat Thailand 2-0 in that final for their first Asian Games team regu title since 1990. Earlier in that event, they came from behind to beat Indonesia in the semi-finals.

Utusan Malaysia also credited the recovery of the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) under president Datuk Wira Sumali Reduan. Sumali is also Malaysia's chef de mission in Aichi-Nagoya. The paper said the federation had settled internal disputes and given the national programme a clearer direction. Before this Asian Games gold, Malaysia also ended a 34-year wait for SEA Games gold in Thailand.

What it means for the medal table

The regu silver was Malaysia's fourth silver of the Games, Kosmo reported. With the six golds already won, the contingent is now on six golds, four silvers and nine bronzes, and the Games continue until 4 October.

The sepak takraw squad had hoped to win a seventh gold for Malaysia, and Thailand stopped that bid. Still, a team that went to Japan without a single Asian Games gold in 36 years is leaving with one, and it is the headline team event.

Key takeaways

• Thailand beat Malaysia 15-9, 15-8 in the men's regu final on 29 September.
• Malaysia beat the Philippines 2-1 in the semi-final after losing the first set.
• Sepak takraw finished with one gold and one silver, up from two silvers at Hangzhou 2022.
• The silver is Malaysia's fourth of the Games.

FAQ

Q: Who played for Malaysia in the regu final? A: Mohamad Azlan Alias, Aidil Aiman Azwawi and Mohamad Syahir Mohd Rosdi started. Muhammad Zulkifli Abd Razak and Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali came on as substitutes.

Q: What is the difference between regu and team regu? A: A regu is one three-player side. The team regu is made up of several regus playing in a series against the other country.

Q: When did Malaysia last win Asian Games team regu gold before 2026? A: In 1990, which is why the 25 September win ended a 36-year wait.

Sources: Utusan Malaysia, Kosmo, The Star, Malay Mail, Bernama